Roof not fully opening *now with video

inkey$

Lifer
 Sevenoaks & Suffolk
Just in time for the sunshine, my roof wont close fully and engage with the clips behind the roll hoops. Needs a gentle push down of about 20-30mm to click and turn flashing red lights off. Doesn't seem to be a problem, just more annoying. Is it the cold or can I adjust the roof so it falls lower and engages.

Motor works and sounds fine and I can see it turning when supposedly in the fully open position, just not enough to take it further down and clip into place on it's own. Fabric is folding okay as is the closing action.

Any ideas on a DIY fix?
 
Ok, Some others have reported this as well, they've used light bike oil - or WD40 until you can find some. Spray all the visible joints around the frame and the hooks at the front and that should fix it.

The other things maybe low fluid ( unlikely ) and a sign the motor is wearing out ( possible but try the lubrication trick first )

Hope that fixes it :D
 
Thanks gmecalf. I've got some high quality bike oil I'll try first and see how it works out. Appreciate the advice and will let you know how I get on :thumbsup:
 
Also check how the edge of the roof is folding, it has been know to fold under so preventing the roof from lowering correctly.
 
srhutch said:
Also check how the edge of the roof is folding, it has been know to fold under so preventing the roof from lowering correctly.

Will do. Fold out good, fold in bad. Thanks dude. :thumbsup:
 
Okay, just tried the lube and still experiencing issues. Did a short video to show how it so nearly gets there but not quite...

[youtube]ggSfDRzcphQ[/youtube]
 
Really dumb question but there isn't anything high up in the boot, like a pair of old kecks or a sweaty football sock, that might be jamming things a bit is there?
 
Nothing in the boot at all. Empty save for a bottle of screen wash and an old Philips 2004 map.
 
Nothing in there at all gookah. Thinking it might be a cold weather issue and the fabric is not yet softened enough. Other than that I'm stumped.
 
There is a possible place you can adjust the roof position.
If you look behind the seats to the side of the cubbyholes/subs there are square grilles. If you pull these off ( they just prise out easily) you will see a round grommet underneath, remove this and there is a torx bolt behind it. Also higher above it, under a round plastic cover is the top torx bolt. You could try slightly loosening these with the top 3/4 open, you can move the roof forwards or backwards a bit and retighten, I did this to adjust mine when I refitted my roof, but I can't remember which way I moved it..
However that wouldn't explain why yours would need this now.
 
Cheers gookah. Worth considering.
Paddy - thanks too but I've seen that post and was last to add on it. Was more of a fabric folding issue on that one. Speaking of which, are there any pics of what the fabric should look like from inside the car?
 
I'v never had any problems with my roof (touch wood), it goes all the way down, but after seeing "inkey$ video when he presses it down at the end it makes a click noise as the catch engages.
Should it also make the click noise at the end when it goes all the way down using the motor?? Mine doesnt but it is firmly down. Slightly worried now.
 
Russ59 said:
I'v never had any problems with my roof (touch wood), it goes all the way down, but after seeing "inkey$ video when he presses it down at the end it makes a click noise as the catch engages.
Should it also make the click noise at the end when it goes all the way down using the motor?? Mine doesnt but it is firmly down. Slightly worried now.

The click when it opens and goes down is the securing catch engaging. Later versions deleted the catch. On the early models (up to about 2006 I think) there was a BMW technical bulletin which offered a dealer solution if the catch do not engage (it's on the Forum somewhere) which slightly enlarged the opening for the catch to engage in. Mine's a 2004 model and after the winter and removing the hardtop I need to just push the roof down slightly to engage the catch but sometimes forget - and never had an issue. On warm days (the odd ones we get in the UK!) and as the roof fabric becomes more flexible the catch engages everytime.
 
My roof was exactly the same - I lived with it for last 6 months but found it annoying!

I thought mine was fold related but trying to get the roof to fold better never seem to have any effect.

Roof finally died this week - but hopefully this isn't a pre cursor for your roof and it's unrelated!

See what mines like with a new motor when it's sorted.
 
I am also having this problem now...

The roof has been fine for 6 months+ now. I opened the roof with a very full boot (forgetting it was full). It didnt retract properly so I raised it again. The next time I came to lower the roof I get a very similar problem to this. It lowers almost fully, but won't click into place.

The folding issue suggested, sounds like a probable cause. (How is it supposed to fold under normal operation?).
 
I have just sorted my issue, turned out to be one of the shelfs in the boot had got stuck up, when it needed to be down. Anyone know what these shelfs are for? My guess is something to do with the manual install/un-install of the roof...
 
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